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The dads of yore could have really used a backpack cooler. In my mind’s eye, I still see the old man struggling on scorched sand — lugging metal folding chairs, thick canvas totes, and a hard case cooler. He lumbered beyond a quarter of a mile on those humidity-soaked summer days with sweat amassing from a scornful brow. He would responsibly set up the family’s basecamp with veins like McDonald’s straws pumping through muscled forearms. His sweat dripped to the sand, forming dark spots like islands around our newly claimed speck of earth. These memories make the lauded comedian Jim Gaffigan’s punchline ring true when he says “why is Dad always in such a bad mood?” In stark contrast to the struggles of the past, today’s fathers can place the heavy burden of six-packs and bologna sandwiches square on their shoulders via the innovative backpack cooler.
The backpack cooler has changed the game for our ability to bring the party to wherever you go. Why complete a strongman walk every time you want some ice-cold IPAs in the park? Task & Purpose was able to get my hands on the best lineup of backpack coolers available. So, I set out on a vision quest to find which cooler keeps my beer the frostiest, provides the most comfort, and still has the durability to last for years to come. After concluding my tests, it’s apparent my son will reminisce on how effortlessly I hauled the family cooler without breaking a sweat, grinning ear to ear, and ready to take on the next adventure.
- Best Overall: Icemule Boss
- Best Value: Igloo Ringleader Rucksack Cooler Backpack
- Editor’s Choice: RTIC Backpack Cooler
- Most Retro: Coleman 24 Can Cooler Backpack
- Best for Fishing: Yeti Hopper Backflip 24 Soft Cooler
- Best for Hiking: REI Co-op Cool Trail Pack Cooler
Methodology
Having deployed in almost every aspect of Naval Warfare, as well as being an avid outdoorsman, I have an idea of what materials and designs are built to last and perform. I took all that knowledge and came up with a list of the best backpack coolers available today.
I started my search with trusted brands like Yeti, Coleman, and Igloo. Then, I rounded out the list with some surprises like Icemule, RTIC, and REI — companies you may not recognize as backpack cooler makers. This list has a litany of capabilities, running the gambit from day-use to full-on backcountry adventures. To surmise, I chose the gear that has a good track record and those I would personally want.
For this review, I tested every backpack hands-on and pitted them against each other to really find out which backpack reigned supreme. If these packs advertised certain capabilities like waterproofing or ice retention, I put them to the test. Every person’s needs in a backpack cooler are different, so I made sure to let you know exactly which pursuits the backpack excelled at to narrow your search.
Best Overall
Icemule Boss
Best Value
Igloo Ringleader Rucksack Cooler Backpack
Editor’s Choice
RTIC Backpack Cooler
Most Retro Cooler
Coleman 24 Can Cooler Backpack
Best for Fishing
Yeti Hopper Backflip 24 Soft Cooler
Best Hiking Cooler
REI Co-op Cool Trail Pack Cooler
Types of backpack coolers
There are a lot of choices nowadays, as every cooler and backpack company seems to make a foray into the backpack cooler market. For us, you can break these packs into two basic categories to narrow your search: waterproof and recreational backpack coolers.
Waterproof
These are the top-of-the-line coolers with the capability to endure white rapids and have the necessary tie-down anchors to keep them in place. With these types of packs, you can traverse rivers and endure anything mother nature can throw at you, all while retaining ice at a premium rate, and keeping whatever’s inside safe and secure.
Recreational
These are built to fuel you for the day’s adventure. The non-waterproof nature of them makes them more comfortable to wear, but their durability also takes a hit. Not worrying about possibly being submerged in water, they cater to the population that is taking a trip to the park, beach, or trailhead that isn’t so worried about keeping things cooled down for days on end.
Key features of backpack coolers
Ice retention
In the event you’re trekking the Mojave desert, ice retention could mean life or death. However, I have found that for most day trips, if my ice melts over the course of having a great time, it performs just as intended. When choosing the right cooler, ask yourself how hard is it going to be to get more ice? Is having ice necessary to complete your endeavor? If the plan is to head to the backcountry and rough it for three or four days, the only way to keep ice is with a superior pack that is going to cost more money.
Size
Backpack coolers tend to tell you how many cans they can hold with 10 pounds of ice. They have different models with the usual suspects of 20-, 24-, and 30-can models. We tested a wide variety on this review to give you an idea of what size may work for you.
Shape
The shape of the cooler pack actually ended up being a bigger factor than I had anticipated. The more rigid coolers (quite frankly) just don’t ruck very well, but they perform well in the ice retention test. The softer coolers form better to your body and are generally much easier to lug around for longer infills, but at a greater loss of ice over time. The longer and narrower backpacks provide a lot of comfort as well, but reaching down into them can be a struggle. My best advice is to find something that works for your body type, and deal with the ease of use when it’s time to pop a top.
Dry storage
Consequently, on any trip you’re going to need more than ice-cold liquids. Dry storage is your compass for ensuring a successful venture. Backpack coolers have many options when it comes to stowables, and I implore you to choose one with opportunities to pack out more than perishables. Having safe storage of your phone and camera on a long trip could be the buying difference in some cases.
Weight
Backpack cooler weight is important because carrying beverages and ice is already heavy. I also found there is some correlation between ice retention and weight. Here is the weight breakdown for the coolers we tested.
- Icemule Boss – 7.12 pounds
- Yeti Backflip Hopper 24 – 5.42 pounds
- RTIC Backpack Cooler – 5.17 pounds
- REI Co-op Cool Trail Pack – 3.33 pounds
- Coleman 24 Can Backpack Cooler – 2.77 pounds
- Igloo Ringleader Rucksack Cooler – 1.99 pounds
Pricing considerations for backpack coolers
Budget
There are plenty of choices out there under $100 dollars if you know what you are looking for. On our list, the Igloo Ringleader Rucksack Back Cooler, Coleman 24 Can Backpack Cooler, and the REI Co-op Cool Trail Pack Cooler are all in this price category and are excellent choices for entry into the backpack cooler realm. Performance dropped for the budget backpack coolers in durability, weatherproofing, and ice retention. Besides that, we were impressed with their capability. If your activities aren’t that extreme, I would recommend picking a cooler in this range.
Mid-range
Between $100 and $250 is where the RTIC Backpack Cooler lies, and it rules this price range. At these price points, you begin to get the weatherproofing we’d expect from harder cased coolers. The RTIC is much cheaper than the Yeti, and basically handled everything we threw at it. Unless you are going for certain aesthetics that only premium models offer, the RTIC is this gear reviewer’s choice.
Premium
When the adventure requires a greater level of trust between you and your gear, this is where you should be shopping. The Yeti Backflip Hopper 24 and the Icemule Boss are going to be serving ice-cold beverages whatever the weather throws at you. At the premium level over $250, you are getting a really reliable backpack with a superior cooler. The blending of these two worlds is key, and the higher-priced packs simply performed better.
FAQs on backpack coolers
You’ve got questions, Task & Purpose has answers.
Q: What should I look for in a backpack cooler?
A: Based on my experience, you should look for something that functions as a cooler first and backpack second. After that, consider comfort and ruck-ability. That means you can trust your cargo is going to get there as cold as possible.
Q: Can you put ice in a cooler bag?
A: Yes, stuff as much ice as you can fit into your backpack cooler. A cooler bag is going to need some sort of cold apparatus to maintain temperature, so ice bricks or ice packs are another great option because you won’t have to worry about leaks. A frozen water bottle works great as well.
Q: How do you keep your cooler cold the longest?
A: Pre-chilling the cooler is a necessary first step. Get your cooler into the cold garage, actually place it in the fridge or freezer, or sacrifice a bag of ice placed inside. Once chilled, line the bottom with ice bricks, then ice and your food or drinks, and finally top off the contents with more ice bricks. Pre-freezing your perishables will prolong the coldness in your cooler, too.